DeLand's Cress restaurant gets top local Zagat rating

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 12:58 p.m.

DELAND -- Cress Restaurant in downtown DeLand has been named the best restaurant in the greater Orlando area by Zagat Survey LLC, a national company that scores restaurants based on diner surveys.

New York-based Zagat announced this week that Cress, at 103 W. Indiana Ave., earned a nearly perfect score of 29 on the company's 30-point rating scale — tops among the 360 restaurants in the company's 2013 “Orlando City Guide.”

“We're blown away,” said Hari Pulapaka, the restaurant's executive chef and co-owner. “I stand by what I make.”

This is the first time Cress has made Zagat's list. The restaurant rating company last published a city guide for the Orlando area in 2002.

No other Volusia restaurants made Zagat's latest list. Rona Gindin, a local editor with Zagat, said that other Volusia restaurants might not have received enough diner evaluations to be included in the print guide.

Flagler County restaurants weren't included in the Orlando City Guide because Zagat doesn't consider the county part of the Orlando area, Gindin said.

Zagat collects reviews from thousands of diners from across the country and scores restaurants on food, wine, service and décor.

Cress, which specializes in seasonal global cuisine, ranked first in food quality, first in wine selection and fourth in service. The restaurant also ranked highly in décor, Pulapaka said.

The restaurant's name refers to the plants in the mustard family.

Pulapaka, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, opened Cress in 2008 with his wife, Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka, a local podiatrist.

Hari Pulapaka handles the food, while his wife manages the restaurant's wine selection.

“We're extremely flattered,” Hari Pulapaka said of earning Zagat's top ranking. “It won't change what we've been doing for five years now — handling one plate at a time, one guest at a time. It's the only way we know how to do things.”

Zagat ratings carry clout with many diners, said Costa Magoulas, dean of the School of Hospitality and Culinary Management at Daytona State College.

“There are people out there that really respect Zagat,” Magoulas said. “(Zagat doesn't) set the standard for restaurants, but if your restaurant has a Zagat rating, people recognize that.”

Hari Pulapaka said he changes the restaurant's menu based on the season and local availability. Cress carries a selection of about 60 wines.

Jenneffer Pulapaka said the restaurant attracts diners from Daytona Beach, Orlando and even Jacksonville. She hopes the new Zagat ratings will draw more out-of-town diners and make Cress even more of a destination restaurant, she said.

“(Diners from Jacksonville) try to make a nice day out of it,” Pulapaka said.

<p>DELAND -- Cress Restaurant in downtown DeLand has been named the best restaurant in the greater Orlando area by Zagat Survey LLC, a national company that scores restaurants based on diner surveys. </p><p> New York-based Zagat announced this week that Cress, at 103 W. Indiana Ave., earned a nearly perfect score of 29 on the company's 30-point rating scale — tops among the 360 restaurants in the company's 2013 “Orlando City Guide.” </p><p> “We're blown away,” said Hari Pulapaka, the restaurant's executive chef and co-owner. “I stand by what I make.” </p><p> This is the first time Cress has made Zagat's list. The restaurant rating company last published a city guide for the Orlando area in 2002.</p><p> No other Volusia restaurants made Zagat's latest list. Rona Gindin, a local editor with Zagat, said that other Volusia restaurants might not have received enough diner evaluations to be included in the print guide. </p><p> Flagler County restaurants weren't included in the Orlando City Guide because Zagat doesn't consider the county part of the Orlando area, Gindin said.</p><p> Zagat collects reviews from thousands of diners from across the country and scores restaurants on food, wine, service and décor. </p><p> Cress, which specializes in seasonal global cuisine, ranked first in food quality, first in wine selection and fourth in service. The restaurant also ranked highly in décor, Pulapaka said. </p><p> The restaurant's name refers to the plants in the mustard family. </p><p> Pulapaka, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, opened Cress in 2008 with his wife, Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka, a local podiatrist. </p><p> Hari Pulapaka handles the food, while his wife manages the restaurant's wine selection. </p><p> “We're extremely flattered,” Hari Pulapaka said of earning Zagat's top ranking. “It won't change what we've been doing for five years now — handling one plate at a time, one guest at a time. It's the only way we know how to do things.” </p><p> Zagat ratings carry clout with many diners, said Costa Magoulas, dean of the School of Hospitality and Culinary Management at Daytona State College.</p><p> “There are people out there that really respect Zagat,” Magoulas said. “(Zagat doesn't) set the standard for restaurants, but if your restaurant has a Zagat rating, people recognize that.”</p><p> Hari Pulapaka said he changes the restaurant's menu based on the season and local availability. Cress carries a selection of about 60 wines. </p><p> “My wine menu frequently changes,” Jenneffer Pulapaka said. “We remain tireless in our efforts to keep the flavor profile current, based on Hari's menu.” </p><p> Jenneffer Pulapaka said the restaurant attracts diners from Daytona Beach, Orlando and even Jacksonville. She hopes the new Zagat ratings will draw more out-of-town diners and make Cress even more of a destination restaurant, she said. </p><p> “(Diners from Jacksonville) try to make a nice day out of it,” Pulapaka said.</p><p> Cress has eight employees.</p>